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Washington, D.C., March 30th - Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, today introduced a resolution recognizing April as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (H.Res.289).
"April is National Sexual Awareness and Prevention Month, a time to focus on the survivors, recognize those assisting the victims and recommit ourselves as a nation to aggressively preventing and prosecuting these malicious assaults," said Moran.
No segment of our society is free from sexual assault. Regardless of age, gender, ethnic, economic, social and religious group, sexual assaults can and do occur. Here are some of the alarming statistics:
- Someone is sexually assaulted in the United States every two-and-a-half minutes.
- One in six women and one in 33 men have been victim of rape or attempted rape.
- In 2005, 191,670 people in the United States were sexually assaulted.
- Two-thirds of sexual crimes are committed by persons the victim knows.
- Children and young adults are most at risk for sexual assault.
- 44 percent of sexual assault victims are under the age of 18, and 80 percent are under the age of 30.
Moran went on to state, "Efforts to increase rape awareness, provide support to rape victims and prosecute the perpetrators work. In the last decade, sexual assaults have decreased by half. Thanks in part to the over 1,000 rape crisis centers and assault prevention organizations currently operating in the U.S., sexual assault is on the decline."
"But despite significant strides, much more needs to be done. Current statistics show that only 41 percent of sexual assault victims report the crime. By raising awareness of sexual assault we hope to remove some of the stigma associated with this horrible crime thereby making victims feel more comfortable coming forward and helping law enforcement put these violent offenders where they belong -- in prison."
"We're very pleased that Congressman Moran is putting forward this bill" said Lisa Baker, Director of Alexandria Office on Women. "Sexual violence is a social problem that affects tens of thousands of women, men, children, and their families and friends every year. Hopefully, through bringing national attention and added awareness to this important issue, more victims and survivors will reach out for help."
Original cosponsors of the resolution include: Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ted Poe (R-TX), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Lois Capps (D-CA) and Michael Michaud (D-ME).
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